Æschines

, a Socratic philosopher, in the fourth century B. C. was an Athenian of mean birth, but discovered
an early thirst after knowledge, and, though oppressed by
poverty, devoted himself to the pursuit of wisdom, under
the tuition of Socrates. When he first became his disciple,
he told Socrates, that the only thing which it was in his
power to present him, in acknowledgment of his kind instructions, was himself. Socrates replied, that he accepted
and valued the present, but that he hoped to render it more
valuable by culture. Æschines adhered to this master with
unalterable fidelity and perseverance, and enjoyed his particular friendship. Having spent many years in Athens,
without being able to rise above the poverty of his birth, he
determined, after the example of Plato and others, to visit
the court of Dionysius, the tyrant of Sicily, who at this time
had the reputation of being a general patron of philosophers.
On his arrival at Syracuse, though slighted on account of
his poverty by Plato, he was introduced to the prince by
Aristippus, and was liberally rewarded for his Socratic dialogues. He remained in Sicily till the expulsion of the
tyrant, and then returned to Athens. Here, not daring to
become a public rival of Plato or Aristippus, he taught philosophy in private, and received payment for his instructions. Afterwards, in order to provide himself with a more
plentiful subsistence, he appeared as a public orator; and
Demosthenes, probably because he was jealous of his abilities (for he excelled in eloquence), became his opponent.
The time when he died is not known. He wrote seven
Socratic dialogues, in the true spirit of his master, on temperance, moderation, humanity, integrity, and other virtues,
under the titles, Miltiades, Callias, Rhinon, Aspasia, Alcis, Axiochus, and Telauges. Of these only three are
| extant, the best edition of which is by Le Clerc, Amsterdam,
1711, 8vo. There is another valuable edition, with the
notes of Horneus, Leovard. 1788, 8vo. 1

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